A link below of the OPB radio show that aired August 19th, 2025.
https://www.opb.org/article/2025/08/19/think-out-loud-tsunami-warning-oregon-disaster-preparedness
The tsunami warning that hit the Oregon coast earlier this month triggered more than just alarms — it revealed deeper cracks in the state’s emergency response system. For two state representatives who are helping lead efforts to modernize how Oregon prepares for natural disasters, the incident underscored the gaps in Oregon’s disaster readiness, from outdated emergency notification systems to underfunded infrastructure and training.
Rep. Paul Evans, D-Monmouth, has a $300 million proposal to modernize Oregon’s disaster preparedness, aiming to improve communication systems, strengthen infrastructure, and expand local readiness efforts over the next decade.
He and Rep. David Gomberg, D-Otis, join us to discuss where Oregon has made progress, where significant vulnerabilities remain and how new investments could help the state better prepare for the next major crisis — whether it’s a tsunami, wildfire or another emergency altogether.
“Think Out Loud®” broadcasts live at noon every day and rebroadcasts at 8 p.m.
–
Below is an excerpt of the radio broadcast.
–
Miller: David Gomberg, before we say goodbye, what other issues are you thinking about specifically on the coast?
Rep. Gomberg: Well, let’s start with this. This latest tsunami warning landed on us in the midst of a very serious fire season. If we’d had a major event at the coast at the same time, our resources would have been spread very, very thin. Now, you asked about the price tag, and if we’re looking at a couple hundred million dollars to get ready for major disasters and legislators are sitting down saying, “how do we pay for schools, for healthcare, for wildfire response and public safety,” it’s hard to take money away from those things looking at some undefined potential major disaster on the horizon.
What am I looking at here? As Rep. Evans has outlined, we’re looking at institutional improvements that need to be made. We also need to look at infrastructure changes, moving fire departments out of the tsunami inundation zone, moving our police stations further from the beach. And I look at our coastal hospitals that each have an average of about three days’ supply of drinking water and generator fuel. So we’re asking Oregon families to be two weeks ready and our hospitals are only three days ready. Those are all necessary investments in small communities that don’t have the big dollars those kinds of projects normally need.
“And the final thing I want to add is that we’re looking at the government in terms of institutional changes and infrastructure changes, but at the end of the day, Oregonians themselves need to be better prepared as well. Because before the government can be here to help you, you’re gonna need to help yourself. And you’re gonna need to be in a position to reach out to your family, to have your go-kits in place, to have your go-plan in place, where you’re going to leave to and how you’re going to meet your family, how you’re going to take care of your neighbors, how you’re gonna take care of your community – all of that in the immediate aftermath of a major event. We need to be better prepared.”
Miller: David Gomberg and Paul Evans, thanks very much.